Wakefield Bids Merry City Festival 23rd Aug 2025s  9th Aug, 2025

Report Phil Barr videos Carol Flatters, Jane Barr photos David Blackburn, Carol Flatters

Wakeylele headlining at the Merrie City Festival on a Bank Holiday weekend –  pull the other one… and yet here we were on a proper stage, with an array of professional sound equipment, coloured lighting, security people, sound engineers and helpful staff on hand to fetch and carry, one young lady even setting up the band banner for us which saved me likely public embarrassment as with most things that have more than three pieces to assemble. The much-vaunted Green Room was the only disappointment as it was more like a dark cave    where safety goggles would have been handy to cut down the risk of being poked in the eye by the leg of a music stand. Room was also at a premium on stage, where, even if one or two more of a dozen distinguished group members had been available, would have meant sitting on someone’s knee. (In my case, it would have been either Dave F or Mike, and as much as I like both…) 

   So, the stop clock on stage counted down to zero, the Cathedral bell struck four times and the event MC introduced us with a flourish of glowing adjectives as David, having discarded his pipe and slippers for the afternoon got us underway with a double song introduction. At this stage, the nerves were jangling as we were in unknown territory, playing on a raised platform in front of an expectant crowd, not really knowing what we sounded like. All I could hear at this point was Joe’s energetic playing, his uke going ten to the dozen in my ear with him standing close by – he was in football terminology giving one hundred and ten percent. Fortunately, his, and our efforts appeared to be paying off as we got into our stride and relaxed a little as the audience, either sitting on the adjacent cathedral steps or standing in groups on the precinct gave us generous backing as we launched into a sequence of crowd pleasers, with young families also joining in and dancing to the likes of Daydream Believer and I’m Into Something Good. David undoubtedly played a big part here in settling us down, starting with a self-deprecating remark to the audience – “Haven’t you got anything better to do this afternoon?” Clearly, people had come to enjoy themselves and looking round, it was a lovely scene with the grey August clouds   being dispelled with the help of Love Potion Number 9 and, later, Sunny Afternoon.  A special mention here for Val as her bass sound came through both skilfully and effectively throughout the afternoon and along with John’s sterling efforts on the drum compensated for Mag’s absence, distraught though she was to miss out and, as she, (wrongly) saw it, let the side down. On the positive side, though, it at least meant that Roy wasn’t there to get rid of any more crates of cooking apples and then attempt to flog the bags, as on Tuesday night, for a lot more than the tuppence mentioned in Mary Poppins. Meanwhile, the hits kept coming with Elsie in her element in a, for once, prominent position on stage, along with Peter J, Margaret, David Blackburn, Melvyn, Linda and John, though, while further back were giving their all during confident renditions of The Union…, Wagon Wheel and You’re Sixteen

Union of Different Kinds

as eyes were again drawn to the stop clock as five o clock approached. This gave just enough time for David to pull out his tale about Willie Nelson penning his song, On the Road Again on the back of a sick bag before launching once more into that very familiar tune which never fails to succeed – indeed I spotted a young couple in their twenties who stopped in their tracks to listen with obvious enjoyment, making the afternoon feel even more worthwhile. Then to cap it all, our host not only rounded things off with more gushing words, but in addition advertised our website details, with Pop quick to pass on to him that we also have a YouTube channel. (We are very fortunate to have no qualms about people checking – in, knowing that we have a RH at mission control.)

 For this big event, I think we were very grateful that David returned to lead us, not only because he’s the main reason we’ve got where we are today and are familiar with his individual promptings but also at this time of change a bit of stability doesn’t go amiss. The lively discussions on WhatsApp indicate a range of opinions as we head into a new season, and teething troubles are to be expected, or in Beryl’s case root canal problems! Hope you are recovering Beryl.

 Many thanks to all concerned for making this event so memorable, not least to our army of family and friend – we could see you all from on high – including of course our video unit consisting of Barbara, Mrs Flatters and Jane.

 

Daydream Believer

The next instalment of our adventure begins back at Walton club on Tuesday, 2nd September with Joe and Roy leading. We all look forward to that and with a bit of luck the wasps and grubs will have devoured any remaining ‘cookers’ meaning that Roy can concentrate on the music.

A world of our own